Passenger spaceship completes its first rocket-powered flight

Virgin Galactic gets closer to letting you buy your way into space.

Virgin Galactic’s space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo, completed its first rocket-powered flight to supersonic speeds and a maximum altitude of 55,000 feet, the company announced in a press release Monday. The test flight brings SpaceShipTwo one step closer to achieving spaceflight, an experience Virgin Galactic plans to start providing to customers by the beginning of 2014.

SpaceShipTwo performed a test flight last December where its rocket components were installed— including tanks, valves, and plumbing—but were not powered. In Monday’s flight, the rocket motor was ignited once SpaceShipTwo was released from the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft.

WhiteKnightTwo launched from Mojave, CA and the former aircraft dragged the latter to 47,000 feet in altitude over the course of 45 minutes. At that time, SpaceShipTwo was released and its rockets were fired to propel it up to speeds of Mach 1.2 and an altitude of 55,000 feet. The independent flight lasted 10 minutes, and SpaceShipTwo managed to land safely back in Mojave.

SpaceShipTwo is set to be a suborbital tourist vehicle, and Virgin Galactic will collect $200,000 per head for a ride. As of last July, the company had collected 529 deposits for SpaceShipTwo rides. In the next few months, Virgin Galactic plans to extend the powered flight range of SpaceShipTwo until it achieves full spaceflight. The company anticipates this will happen by the end of 2013.

I saw Spaceship Two and its carrier while driving through Mojave a couple Fridays ago. Had no idea what I was looking at until it was almost out of sight (and out of camera range, alas) Weird, weird looking bird.

I'm hesitant to call anything that can neither arrive to nor depart from space a space ship. It's more akin to a little boat that dares to leave the harbor for a few minutes before returning to its safety for lack of fuel, provisions, and indeed seaworthiness.

I'm hesitant to call anything that can neither arrive to nor depart from space a space ship. It's more akin to a little boat that dares to leave the harbor for a few minutes before returning to its safety for lack of fuel, provisions, and indeed seaworthiness.

haha. yeah. 55,000 feet in a fighter jet is not that hard; 80,000 or even 100,000 feet in a modern fighter (hell, 30 or 40 years ago this was happening) is doable.

But to have see this in a commercial space ship... this is a definite milestone. HELL YEAH.

Quote:

I saw Spaceship Two and its carrier while driving through Mojave a couple Fridays ago.

You did?? I was just there driving on CA-14 and looked at the Spaceport from the road, and didn't see...

Yep. Didn't know what I was looking at. My wife and I guessed that it was SS2 from the fact that Mojave is Scaled Composite's home, and confirmed it later as there was a test that morning according to Scaled's website.

We went to Truth or Consequences (TorC) NM for our 29th anniversary. While there, we toured the "Spaceport". At least for now allow me to warn you, the "tour" isn't worth spit. I could go on and on about two empty shells of buildings being guarded at gunpoint. (Why?) And a guide dropping names of famous people he imagined he wished would want to know him. If you want to see the place, just drive the backroad yourself and take a pair of good binoculars.

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The difference being there are real companies out there putting real satellites into orbit all the time. These guys are bringing the $/Kg cost of leaving the atmosphere down by a significant margin, even if only to sub-orbital distances in this first step.

Reliably put payloads into space for 1/5, or 1/10 of what it costs now using rockets and the customers will line up at your front door.

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The difference being there are real companies out there putting real satellites into orbit all the time. These guys are bringing the $/Kg cost of leaving the atmosphere down by a significant margin, even if only to sub-orbital distances in this first step.

Reliably put payloads into space for 1/5, or 1/10 of what it costs now using rockets and the customers will line up at your front door.

Yeah, but those companies have names like "SpaceX" and "Orbital Sciences", and fly out of locations like KSC, Vandenberg, and Wallops, not Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The difference being there are real companies out there putting real satellites into orbit all the time. These guys are bringing the $/Kg cost of leaving the atmosphere down by a significant margin, even if only to sub-orbital distances in this first step.

Reliably put payloads into space for 1/5, or 1/10 of what it costs now using rockets and the customers will line up at your front door.

Yeah, but those companies have names like "SpaceX" and "Orbital Sciences", and fly out of locations like KSC, Vandenberg, and Wallops, not Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The difference being there are real companies out there putting real satellites into orbit all the time. These guys are bringing the $/Kg cost of leaving the atmosphere down by a significant margin, even if only to sub-orbital distances in this first step.

Reliably put payloads into space for 1/5, or 1/10 of what it costs now using rockets and the customers will line up at your front door.

Unfortunately, this dude (or more specifically, Virgin Galactic) seems to me to have bloated their own role in a possible boom... Their toys would carry only tourists with no extra cargo space for (what I'd call) practical payload like (what you call) real satellites. The facilities he showed were-and-were-to-be a tourista circus.

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The difference being there are real companies out there putting real satellites into orbit all the time. These guys are bringing the $/Kg cost of leaving the atmosphere down by a significant margin, even if only to sub-orbital distances in this first step.

Reliably put payloads into space for 1/5, or 1/10 of what it costs now using rockets and the customers will line up at your front door.

Unfortunately, this dude (or more specifically, Virgin Galactic) seems to me to have bloated their own role in a possible boom... Their toys would carry only tourists with no extra cargo space for (what I'd call) practical payload like (what you call) real satellites. The facilities he showed were-and-were-to-be a tourista circus.

SpaceShipTwo is definitely tourists-only. However, there's LauncherOne from VG that will launch satellites. I think that's what you're looking for.

haha. yeah. 55,000 feet in a fighter jet is not that hard; 80,000 or even 100,000 feet in a modern fighter (hell, 30 or 40 years ago this was happening) is doable.

But to have see this in a commercial space ship... this is a definite milestone. HELL YEAH.

Quote:

I saw Spaceship Two and its carrier while driving through Mojave a couple Fridays ago.

You did?? I was just there driving on CA-14 and looked at the Spaceport from the road, and didn't see...

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

There very definitely is air up there. In fact, manned balloons have gotten up to 120+ thousand feet before (unmanned record is ~170,000). However, that is definitely not routine. I believe the highest *level* flight for an air-breathing jet is at around 85,000 feet.

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

You are correct - sort of.

The SR-71 has a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, which is basically the highest sustained flight of any jet aircraft.

The F-104, which was the fastest and highest plane of its time had a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, but Chuck Yaeger flew it a lot higher than that - and crashed it. The record for an F-104 is still shy of 100,000 feet, though, at 91,249 feet. I mention this because the F-104 was in service while the Air Force was experimenting with the first supersonic aircraft, the X-1. A Mig-25 managed 123,523 feet in 1977.

The F-14 Tomcat has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet. That's right, Maverick didn't get anywhere near 100k during the movie Top Gun. The F-22 Raptor has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, but only with special equipment. (Otherwise, you're limited to 44,000 feet.)

Before SpaceShipOne, the absolute altitude record for an airplane was the X-15. It was the only airplane to reach 100,000 meters, which made it the only spaceplane before SS1. It flew at 354,199 feet on a ballistic trajectory.

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

You are correct - sort of.

The SR-71 has a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, which is basically the highest sustained flight of any jet aircraft.

The F-104, which was the fastest and highest plane of its time had a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, but Chuck Yaeger flew it a lot higher than that - and crashed it. The record for an F-104 is still shy of 100,000 feet, though, at 91,249 feet. I mention this because the F-104 was in service while the Air Force was experimenting with the first supersonic aircraft, the X-1. A Mig-25 managed 123,523 feet in 1977.

The F-14 Tomcat has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet. That's right, Maverick didn't get anywhere near 100k during the movie Top Gun. The F-22 Raptor has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, but only with special equipment. (Otherwise, you're limited to 44,000 feet.)

Before SpaceShipOne, the absolute altitude record for an airplane was the X-15. It was the only airplane to reach 100,000 meters, which made it the only spaceplane before SS1. It flew at 354,199 feet on a ballistic trajectory.

I just had to comment on the picture at the top of the article: It looks like how a 60's scifi illustrator might have imagined a spaceship of the 21st century, except it's a picture, not an illustration! Very cool.

I am confused. Why is the X-15 not the highest flying airplane, when it easily trippled the Helios?

Because X-15 was basically a rocket with wings, capable of only a few minutes of boost, and then a glide on a ballistic trajectory. It couldn't even take off independently, a B-52 had to drop it before ignition. Helios is the record holder for sustained flight.

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

You are correct - sort of.

The SR-71 has a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, which is basically the highest sustained flight of any jet aircraft.

The F-104, which was the fastest and highest plane of its time had a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, but Chuck Yaeger flew it a lot higher than that - and crashed it. The record for an F-104 is still shy of 100,000 feet, though, at 91,249 feet. I mention this because the F-104 was in service while the Air Force was experimenting with the first supersonic aircraft, the X-1. A Mig-25 managed 123,523 feet in 1977.

The F-14 Tomcat has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet. That's right, Maverick didn't get anywhere near 100k during the movie Top Gun. The F-22 Raptor has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, but only with special equipment. (Otherwise, you're limited to 44,000 feet.)

Before SpaceShipOne, the absolute altitude record for an airplane was the X-15. It was the only airplane to reach 100,000 meters, which made it the only spaceplane before SS1. It flew at 354,199 feet on a ballistic trajectory.

The guy spoke of an inevitable "space boom" just like the "dotcom boom". Right? (Press yer space bar.)

The difference being there are real companies out there putting real satellites into orbit all the time. These guys are bringing the $/Kg cost of leaving the atmosphere down by a significant margin, even if only to sub-orbital distances in this first step.

Reliably put payloads into space for 1/5, or 1/10 of what it costs now using rockets and the customers will line up at your front door.

It's an enormous leap from 'sub-orbital' to 'orbit'. Spaceship Two will only get to about 2,500 MPH. To get into orbit, it needs to get up to around 18,000 MPH and climb another 40 miles or so.

haha. yeah. 55,000 feet in a fighter jet is not that hard; 80,000 or even 100,000 feet in a modern fighter (hell, 30 or 40 years ago this was happening) is doable.

But to have see this in a commercial space ship... this is a definite milestone. HELL YEAH.

Quote:

I saw Spaceship Two and its carrier while driving through Mojave a couple Fridays ago.

You did?? I was just there driving on CA-14 and looked at the Spaceport from the road, and didn't see...

The only operational military aircraft known to the public that could do 80,000-100,000 ft in any practical and reasonable way was the SR-71. No operational and publicly known "modern fighter" can do that.

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

You are correct - sort of.

The SR-71 has a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, which is basically the highest sustained flight of any jet aircraft.

The F-104, which was the fastest and highest plane of its time had a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, but Chuck Yaeger flew it a lot higher than that - and crashed it. The record for an F-104 is still shy of 100,000 feet, though, at 91,249 feet. I mention this because the F-104 was in service while the Air Force was experimenting with the first supersonic aircraft, the X-1. A Mig-25 managed 123,523 feet in 1977.

The F-14 Tomcat has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet. That's right, Maverick didn't get anywhere near 100k during the movie Top Gun. The F-22 Raptor has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, but only with special equipment. (Otherwise, you're limited to 44,000 feet.)

Before SpaceShipOne, the absolute altitude record for an airplane was the X-15. It was the only airplane to reach 100,000 meters, which made it the only spaceplane before SS1. It flew at 354,199 feet on a ballistic trajectory.

The F-104 and Mig 25 altitude records are also a result of momentum. A service ceiling and an altitude attained as a result of momentum are two different things. Obviously you know that but you are still mixing up the two.

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

You are correct - sort of.

The SR-71 has a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, which is basically the highest sustained flight of any jet aircraft.

The F-104, which was the fastest and highest plane of its time had a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, but Chuck Yaeger flew it a lot higher than that - and crashed it. The record for an F-104 is still shy of 100,000 feet, though, at 91,249 feet. I mention this because the F-104 was in service while the Air Force was experimenting with the first supersonic aircraft, the X-1. A Mig-25 managed 123,523 feet in 1977.

The F-14 Tomcat has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet. That's right, Maverick didn't get anywhere near 100k during the movie Top Gun. The F-22 Raptor has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, but only with special equipment. (Otherwise, you're limited to 44,000 feet.)

Before SpaceShipOne, the absolute altitude record for an airplane was the X-15. It was the only airplane to reach 100,000 meters, which made it the only spaceplane before SS1. It flew at 354,199 feet on a ballistic trajectory.

Chuck Yeager flew the Bell X-1 to break the sound barrier in 1947. The F-104 first flew in 1954. The type of F-104 that Yeager flew to (then) record heights was an NF-104 (of which only three were built), which in addition to its stock jet engine had a rocket engine. This aircraft reached an altitude of 120,800 feet.

As for air at 100,000+ plus--yes, it's there, and exists even at much higher altitudes (even low-orbit spacecraft feel the effects of atmospheric drag). The catch is that there isn't enough of it to be of much use.

[quote="Flashlight"The F-104 and Mig 25 altitude records are also a result of momentum. A service ceiling and an altitude attained as a result of momentum are two different things. Obviously you know that but you are still mixing up the two.

Um, 100k feet in a modern jet fighter? There's no air up there. You might be able to travel ballistically at that height in a modern jet fighter, but good luck controlling your descent.

You are correct - sort of.

The SR-71 has a service ceiling of 85,000 feet, which is basically the highest sustained flight of any jet aircraft.

The F-104, which was the fastest and highest plane of its time had a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, but Chuck Yaeger flew it a lot higher than that - and crashed it. The record for an F-104 is still shy of 100,000 feet, though, at 91,249 feet. I mention this because the F-104 was in service while the Air Force was experimenting with the first supersonic aircraft, the X-1. A Mig-25 managed 123,523 feet in 1977.

The F-14 Tomcat has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet. That's right, Maverick didn't get anywhere near 100k during the movie Top Gun. The F-22 Raptor has a service ceiling of 65,000 feet, but only with special equipment. (Otherwise, you're limited to 44,000 feet.)

Before SpaceShipOne, the absolute altitude record for an airplane was the X-15. It was the only airplane to reach 100,000 meters, which made it the only spaceplane before SS1. It flew at 354,199 feet on a ballistic trajectory.